Tawqeer Hussain
In a rapidly escalating crisis between Pakistan and Iran, Pakistan has carried out military strikes on ‘separatist targets’ in Iran, just a day after Tehran launched an attack on the Jaish al-Adl militant group in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Iran’s state media has reported that the Pakistani attack has resulted in the tragic death of six foreign nationals, including three women and four children, in the Sistan region of Iran. This marks a disturbing turn in the already volatile situation between the two neighbouring countries.
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Soon after the attack, local media in Tehron reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry had summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires, the highest diplomatic position in the absence of an ambassador, to Tehran.
“The purpose of this meeting is to seek explanations for the military strikes conducted by Pakistan,” local media reported. The hashtag #IranPakistanConflict is now trending on social media, reflecting the widespread concern and attention the crisis has garnered.
Today’s attack represents the first missile strike on Iranian soil since the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988. The brutal eight-year conflict left an estimated half a million people dead and ended with a bitter truce.
In response to the escalating situation, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, is reportedly cutting short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos and will return to the country later today. The move underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate attention at the highest levels of leadership.
As the world watches, concerns grow over the potential for further escalation and the impact it may have on regional stability. The international community is likely to closely monitor diplomatic developments as both nations navigate this perilous situation.
(With inputs)
